This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The new normal: When tragedy hits, America is divided. Poll: Clinton, Trump tied in Utah. Romney says he isn't running but won't stay silent.
Happy Monday. This weekend's mass shooting in Orland, Fla., prompted sorrowful statements from political leaders and by Americans on social media. It also brought out the worst in some as the confluence of hot-button issues like gay marriage, guns and terrorism sparked strong opinions. Not since 9/11 has a moment like this brought the nation together, and that evaporated quickly. Since then, calamity seems only to drive the left and the right further apart, while faith in the nation's institutions deteriorates further. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/once-again-national-tragedy-drives-americans-further-apart/2016/06/12/ec6c6350-30bc-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html?postshare=4411465771552511&tid=ss_tw">WaPost</a>]
<strong>Topping the news: </strong>The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the mass shooting, which killed at least 50 people at a gay club in Orlando, Fla. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/orlando-shooting-224226"; target="_blank">Politico</a>] [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.wtsp.com/news/orlando-shooting-victims-list/240973550"; target="_blank">WTSP</a>] Political leaders reacted to the shooting. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/12/gary-johnson-orlando-mass-shooting-is-no-reason-to-politicize-or-jump-to-conclusions/"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-and-clinton-and-their-very-different-responses-to-the-orlando-shootings/2016/06/12/fee2b2aa-30c1-11e6-8ff7-7b6c1998b7a0_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_fla-politics-920pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost</a>]
-> Utahns mourn the victims of a shooting in an Orlando, Fla. A candlelight vigil will be held tonight to honor the victims. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/3997617-155/salt-lake-city-vigil-planned-monday"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656077/Utahns-mourn-condemn-violence-after-Orlando-mass-shooting.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/utah-leaders-and-lgbt-community-react-orlando-shooting"; target="_blank">KUER</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/06/12/flags-ordered-to-half-staff-as-mark-of-respect-for-orlando-shooting-victims/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]
-> A poll of Utah voters shows Donald Trump tied with Hillary Clinton. Trump is unpopular in the state, Clinton may become the first Democrat to win Utah in 52 years. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3993058-155/poll-trumps-unpopularity-could-swing-utahns"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Mitt Romney held a GOP retreat in Park City over the weekend, where donors expressed their frustration with Trump. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/gop-donors-donald-trump-224218"; target="_blank">Politico</a>] Romney plans to stay out of the presidential race [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3992739-155/mitt-romney-will-sit-on-sidelines?fullpage=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>], but he will not remain silent against Trump's "destructive" comments. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3995002-155/romney-says-trump-is-breaking-my"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656041/Mitt-Romney-I-wont-campaign-against-Donald-Trump-but-will-criticize-his-destructive-comments.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the weekend:</strong> From <a href="https://twitter.com/BenWinslow"; target="_blank">@BenWinslow</a>: "When I hit 'publish' on our story on @<a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/HamiltonMusical">HamiltonMusical</a> coming to <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SLC?src=hash"><s>#</s>SLC</a>, I swear I heard @<a class="twitter-atreply pretty-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/KenIvoryUT">KenIvoryUT</a> squeal with joy."
From <a href="https://twitter.com/FareedZakaria"; target="_blank">@FareedZakaria</a>: "Orlando attack appears to be about radical Islam and guns. You don't have to choose, it can be both."
<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>To Jennifer Seelig, Salt Lake City's director of community relations, and Trish Knight, former chief of staff for Sen. Orrin Hatch.
<strong>Opinion section: </strong>Paul Mero, president and CEO of Next Generation Freedom Fund, says Utah can set a national precedent by choosing a third party presidential candidate. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3984309-155/op-ed-utahns-can-lead-the-nation"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Holly Richardson, a former state representative, says that — with rare exceptions — abortion is not a solution to the violent problems women face. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3977919-155/op-ed-abortion-is-never-the-answer"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Susan R. Madsen, the Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Utah Valley University's Woodbury School of Business, says the gender gap persists in Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3974632-155/op-ed-research-shows-the-gender-gap"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Silvia Lotman, the chief executive officer for the Estonian Fund for Nature, says the oil shale mining industry has ruined Estonia's natural resources, and it will destroy Utah's resources if Utahns allow oil shale mining to start. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3974651-155/op-ed-dont-let-estonian-shale-firm"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he will continue to fight against executive overreach and government waste. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656056/My-view-Chaffetz-Fighting-for-what-is-right.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Republican House candidate Chia-Chi Teng says the government is too big and spends too much, and he wants to help fix it. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656057/My-view-Teng-Government-is-too-big-and-spends-too-much.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski says homeless services public workshops will help the city establish new centers to address homelessness. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655944/Jackie-Biskupski-Homeless-services-public-workshops.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Archaeologist and author R.E. Burillo says a group that wants to buy Comb Ridge is civil despite not saying why it wants the land. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3984304-155/op-ed-comb-ridges-would-be-buyers-arent"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on GOP donors' frustration with Donald Trump as discussed at Mitt Romney's Park City retreat. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3992894-155/bagley-cartoon-trump-the-musical"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Paul Rolly comments on a Utah County GOP leader's obsession with the traditional caucus/convention method of nominating candidates. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3988546-155/rolly-gop-leader-be-moral-virtuous"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] Rolly also notes an SLC restaurant closed because it couldn't get a liquor license even though an adjacent LDS Church signed off. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3984231-155/rolly-with-no-liquor-license-70-year-old">Trib</a>]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss how Utahns should address a Trump/Hillary election. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656060/Wrestling-with-old-and-familiar-topics-in-politics.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
<strong>Weekend in review: </strong>Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke a Muhammad Ali's memorial service Friday. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3992397-155/the-mormon-and-the-muslim-"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655995/Sen-Orrin-Hatch-celebrates-Muhammad-Alis-greatness-in-funeral-speech.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> The Salt Lake County Council wants to find ways to collaboratively influence the Utah Transit Authority. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3987669-155/salt-lake-county-council-looks-to">Trib</a>]
-> Utah may see its highest recorded death toll on the roads this year. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/why-are-we-seeing-more-fatalities-on-our-roads-this-year"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]
-> Utah Department of Public Safety advises the public on how to react to an active shooter. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/06/12/utah-department-of-public-safety-discusses-how-to-react-to-an-active-shooter/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]
-> Four Hollywood studios have sued Utah's VidAngel for copyright violation. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865656008/Major-Hollywood-studios-sue-movie-editing-service-VidAngel.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/hollywood-businesses-sue-provo-company"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/06/11/utah-based-vidangel-responds-to-lawsuit-filed-by-disney-lucasfilm-and-others/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]
-> Four LDS missionaries were detained in Mexico after a father said they tried to baptize his sons without parental permission. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/3996349-155/4-lds-missionaries-detained-after-father"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Utah's student population is growing, but teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865655957/Utahs-teacher-problem-What-can-be-done-to-keep-educators-in-the-profession.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Former members of a polygamous sect are buying the houses they used to live in under Warren Jeffs. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3992781-155/ex-polygamous-sect-members-buying-homes-in"; target="_blank">APviaTrib</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> The New York Times takes an in-depth look into Trump's treatment of women. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html?ref=politics"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]
-> Bernie Sanders says it is "very unlikely" he will be Clinton's VP pick. [<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/283175-sanders-its-very-unlikely-ill-be-clintons-vp"; target="_blank">Hill</a>]
-> Lawmakers question an Clinton donor's appointment to the State Department during Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state. [<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-lawmaker-trump-question-state-department-integrity-clinton/story?id=39769543"; target="_blank">ABCNews</a>]
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Rep. Jason <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse"; target="_blank">Chaffetz</a></strong> returns to Washington, where he manages the Freedom of Information Act legislation on the House floor.</li>
<li>Rep. Chris <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart"; target="_blank">Stewart</a> </strong>flies to Washington, where he attends a House Intelligence Committee briefing.</li>
<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a></strong> has no public events.</li>
<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> attends a Millard County elected officials and local businesses meeting in Fillmore.</li>
<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a></strong> is briefed on the shooting in Orlando, Fla. by law enforcement officials.</li>
</ul>
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— Thomas Burr and Kayla Goodson
<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kay_goodson"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/kay_goodson</a>